Over on FB Star Wars FINALLY announced the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII via a black and white photo of them sitting around director JJ Abrams. The ODC secretive Abrams had kept everything under wraps but since it’s beginning filming soon, they had to make an announcement. The photo is of a table reading for the new script with player old and new.

Director J.J. Abrams says, “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer

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We’re excited to know that Abrams saw Inside Llewyn Davis, our favorite movie of 2013, with both Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac in the cast.

For a closer look:

John Boyega is a Briitish actor who starred in Attack the Block.

Daisy Ridley is so little known I could barely find any pictures of her! She’s English of course, and had supporting roles in several UK TV shows. She definitely fits the Keira Knightly/Natalie Portman role.

Oscar Isaac was amazing in Inside Llewyn Davis which boosted his acting cred so you’ll be sick of him by the time Star Wars VII comes out.

Adam Driver is the wacky boyfriend in Girls and in every other indie movie you see these days.

Andy Serkis is the maestro of mocap so I doubt we’ll see his face.

Domhnall Gleeson is Irish and was Bill Weasley in Harry Potter.
Max von Sydow is a grand old man who gets to play old man roles. Jedi? New Dooku?

Please remember these faces so you recognize them when you see them at Star Wars Celebration XVIII.

I’m still not enthused for JJ Abrams take on Star Wars, but that is a great photo at the top, and I love how Harrison Ford got shotgun.

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.